LuxembourgSpecial Flight Covers

National Flights

Twenty-eight Luxembourg National Flight covers (and some varieties) are listed in the Prifix specialized catalog (numbers A1 to A28). The flights they relate to all originated in Luxembourg and are either standard first flights or special flights of some sort.

A1

10-Apr-1931

First airmail stamps. These covers are franked with the four Luxembourg airmail stamps issued on the same day -- the 75c, 1F, 1 1/4F, and 1 3/4F values of the biplane series. They are also franked with stamps of the country that actually provided the airmail service, usually Germany or Belgium. All covers are rubber stamped with a small green "Poste Aérienne / Luxembourg / 10 Avril 1931" circular cachet.

A2

17-Aug-1932

Echternach - Brussels. These special covers include a "Première Poste / par Avion / Echternach (Luxbg.) - Bruxelles / 17 Août 1932" printed cachet. The special postmark reads "1re Poste Par Avion / Echternach (Luxbg.) / 17 Août 1932 / Bruxelles" and includes a small drawing of the Echternach basilica. This was the first airmail flight by plane in Luxembourg. The envelopes were prepared by the Union des Timbrophiles and sold at the Echternach philatelic exhibition.

Esch-sur-Alzette - Brussels - Stockholm. This flight was made to commemorate the opening of the Esch-sur-Alzette airport and an international air show. Special cards were flown to Brussels by the "Shell" airplane and then on to Stockholm by a Sabena aircraft. The card were then franked with Swedish stamps, postmarked in Stockholm, and returned to Esch. All cards are rubber stamped with a "Vol Special Esch/Alz. - Bruxelles - Stockholm AC." purple cachet.

A6a

22-Jul-1939

Esch-sur-Alzette - Clervaux. This flight was part of an aerial tour of Luxembourg organized by The Aviation Club of the Mining Basin (L'Aéro-Club du Bassin Minier) to honor the centenary of Luxembourg's independence. The special cards carried feature a three-color map of the Grand Duchy showing the route of the tour and have a special postmark reading "Esch-sur-Alzette / Meeting d'Aviation / 22.-24.VII.1939". The cards were dropped by parachute from the plane while above Clervaux on July 22 (on a second attempt that day) where they received an arrival postmark.

A6b

22-Jul-1939

Esch-sur-Alzette - Clervaux (mail lost near Eischen). One of the two bags of mail on this flight accidentally fell from the airplane near Eischen after being caught on the fuselage during the first attempted parachute drop at Clervaux. When this bag was found three days later, the cards were postmarked in Eischen on 25.7.39 and then forwarded to Clervaux where they received a 26.7.39 arrival postmark. The cards also received a rubber stamp marking in red that reads as follows: "Courrier égaré en cours de route, retrouvé à Eischen le 25-VII-1939" (Mail lost during trip, found at Eischen on 25-VII-1939). [Reference: Luxembourg Philatelist (vol. VII, no. 4, August-September 1956).]

A7

24-Jul-1939

Esch-sur-Alzette - London. This flight was organized by The Aviation Club of the Mining Basin (L'Aéro-Club du Bassin Minier) to honor the centenary of Luxembourg's independence. The multicolored cards used feature the Luxembourg flag and coat-of-arms. The special postmark reads "Esch-sur-Alzette / Meeting d'Aviation / 22.-24.VII.1939". Upon arrival in London, each card was franked with a 1 1/2d King George VI definitive and postmarked on "28 Jy 39". All cards are rubber stamped with a purple "Transporté par avion / d'Esch-s.-Alz. à Londres" rectangular cachet.

A8

1-May-1939

Abolition of air tax. May 1, 1939 was the first date on which air mail posted in Luxembourg did not also have to be franked with the stamps of the country supplying the air mail service. Air mail on this day was rubber stamped with a "Correspondance AVION / 1.5 - 1939 / Abolition de la surtaxe / en T.P. étrangers" rectangular cachet.

A9b

21-Jul-1946

Luxembourg - Brussels. The multicolored cards used for this flight show a winged arrow going through two targets in the colors of Belgium and Luxembourg. The special postmark reads "1er Vol Postal / Luxembourg-Bruxelles / 21-7-1946".

Luxembourg - Paris. The special postmark for this flight reads "Luxembourg Airlines / 1er Vol 2. 2. 1948 / Luxembourg-Paris" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight. Banque du Timbre issued a special card for this flight which shows, in blue, an airplane in flight.

A12

3-Feb-1948

Luxembourg - Zurich. The special postmark for this flight reads "Luxembourg Airlines / 1er Vol 3. 2. 1948 / Luxembourg-Zurich" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight.

A13

18-Apr-1955

Luxembourg - Stuttgart. This was the first flight for Sabena on the Luxembourg-Stuttgart route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Vol Inaugural Luxembourg-Stuttgart / 18/4/1955 / Sabena" and includes a view of an airplane from above. Sabena issued a cacheted envelope for this flight which shows an airplane in flight and, in green, the silhouette of a rearing horse.

A14a

22-May-1955

Luxembourg - Reykjavik. This was the first Icelandic Airlines postal flight on the Luxembourg-Reykjavik-New York route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Icelandic Airlines Loftleidir / Premier Vol Postal / Luxembourg-Reykjavik-New York" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight. Banque du Timbre and Comptoir Philatélique issued a special card for this flight which shows, in maroon, an airplane in flight.

A14b

22-May-1955

Luxembourg - New York. This was the first Icelandic Airlines postal flight on the Luxembourg-Reykjavik-New York route. The postmark and the Banque du Timbre cachet design are the same as for the previous card.

A15a

17-Oct-1955

Luxembourg - Stavanger. This was the first Icelandic Airlines postal flight on the Luxembourg-Stavanger-Bergen route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / Icelandic Airlines Loftleidir / Luxembourg-Stavanger-Bergen" and includes a drawing of eagle with outstretched wings. Banque du Timbre issued a special card for this flight which shows, in purple, an airplane in flight.

A15b

17-Oct-1955

Luxembourg - Bergen. This was the first Icelandic Airlines postal flight on the Luxembourg-Stavanger-Bergen route. The postmark and the Banque du Timbre cachet design are the same as for the previous card.

A16a

23-Apr-1956

Luxembourg - Nice. This was the first KLM postal flight on the Amsterdam-Luxembourg-Nice-Madrid route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / Luxembourg / Nice-Madrid" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight. KLM issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A16b

23-Apr-1956

Luxembourg - Madrid. This was the first KLM postal flight on the Amsterdam-Luxembourg-Nice-Madrid route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / Luxembourg / Nice-Madrid" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight. KLM issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A17

24-Apr-1956

Luxembourg - Amsterdam. This was the first KLM postal flight on the Madrid-Nice-Luxembourg-Amsterdam route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / KLM / Luxembourg / Amsterdam" and includes a drawing of an airplane in flight. KLM issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A18b

6-Oct-1957

Luxembourg - Salzburg. This was the first Sabena postal flight on the Luxembourg-Münich-Salzburg route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / Sabena / Luxembourg-Munich-Salzbourg". M. Bastian issued a cacheted envelope for this flight showing an airplane in flight.

Luxembourg - Sarrebruck. This was the first DNL postal flight on the Luxembourg-Sarrebruck route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / DNL / 19-7-1961 / Luxembourg - Sarrebruck".

A23

3-Nov-1962

Luxembourg - Santa Cruz de Ténérife. This was the first Kar-Air (Finnish Airlines) postal flight on the Luxembourg-Santa Cruz de Ténérife route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Premier Vol Postal / KAR-AIR / Luxembourg-Santa Cruz de Ténérife". FSPL issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A24

5-Apr-1969

Luxembourg - Prague. This was the first CSA (Czechoslovakian Airlines) flight on the Luxembourg-Prague route. The special postmark for this flight reads "Vol Inaugural Luxembourg-Prague / par CSA / Luxembourg". FSPL issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A25

14-Jun-1973

Luxembourg - Northolt RAF Base. This was a special flight organized by the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society to honor the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Luxembourg resistance group, Les Insoumis-Armée Secrète. The special postmark for this flight reads "Les Insoumis - Armée Secrète / 30e Anniversaire / Aide aux Aviateurs Alliés / Luxembourg". The Royal Air Forces Escaping Society issued a cacheted envelope for this flight showing a view of the Adolphe bridge and the State Savings Bank.

A26

2-May-1973

Luxembourg - Chicago. This was the first Loftleidir Icelandic Airlines flight on the Luxembourg-Reykjavik-Chicago route. The special postmark reads "Vol Inaugural Luxembourg-Reykjavik-Chicago / par Loftleidir / Luxembourg". FSPL issued a cacheted envelope for this flight.

A27a

16-Jun-1978

Luxembourg - Porto.

A28

7-Sep-1981

Luxembourg - Copenhagen.

Return Flights

RA1

6-Oct-1957

Salzburg - Luxembourg.

RA2

6-Apr-1961

New York - Luxembourg. This was the first air mail flight from New York to Luxembourg via Icelandic Airlines (Loftleidir).

Porto - Luxembourg. This was the first flight for Transportes Aéréos Portugueses on the Porto-Lisbon-Luxembourg route.

RA9

19-Jun-1978

Lisbon - Luxembourg.

RA10

7-Sep-1981

Copenhagen - Luxembourg. This was the first SAS Grumman Gulfstream flight from Copenhagen to Luxembourg. SAS issued a cacheted envelope for this flight which shows Fort Thüngen.

Balloon Flights

B1

8-Sep-1927

Luxembourg - Roodt. This airmail flight by balloon was the spectacular closing event for the international philatelic exhibition held on September 4-8, 1927 in Luxembourg. The flight was sponsored by Le Soir, the daily newspaper of Brussels, and was Luxembourg's first airmail flight. The special cards carried on the flight have a printed promotional cachet for the exhibition on the front and a brief description of Luxembourg's two 1852 stamps on the back. The postmark of origin reads "Par Ballon / Exp. Phil. Luxembourg / 8 Sept. 1927". There is also a "Roodt 8/9/27 8-9 S." arrival postmark -- the post office at Roodt-sur-Syr was the one closest to where the balloon landed. [References: Le Luxembourg Philatélique (vol. 3, no. 4, April 1947) and Luxembourg Philatelist (vol. VI, no. 9, January 1956).]

B12

9-May-1954

St. Ingbert - Leudelange. This flight by the Swiss balloon Helvetia started at St. Ingbert in the Saar and landed in Leudelange in Luxembourg.

Rocket Flights

F1

17-Jul-1935

Roberti Rocket Demonstration (Clervaux). This remarkable flight was organized by the famous rocketeer of the 1930s, Karl Roberti. The covers bear a 10c Intellectuals stamp with a "Visitez / Clervaux / Son Abbaye / Son Château" slogan cancellation as well as two private Roberti labels (one green, one brown) showing his rocket in flight above Clervaux. The two labels are cancelled with a purple cachet that reads "1. Raketenflug / Mit flüssige treibstoffen / (Kohlensäurerakete) / Clerf-Clervaux 17-7-35 / R.Kr.1 Luxemburgia" (translation: 1st rocket flight; With liquid propellant; (Carbonic acid rocket)). The covers are also signed by Roberti.

none

23-May-1960

De Bruijn Rocket Demonstration (Echternach). The covers for this flight include a private NRS label showing a map of The Netherlands with rockets above, a rubber stamped red rocket cachet with date, and are signed by Dr. A.J. De Bruijn, the scientist in charge.

none

26-Jun-1961

De Bruijn Rocket Demonstration (Clervaux). The covers for this flight include a private NRS label showing a rocket in flight above a globe and the word "Holland" (perforate and imperforate labels are known), a large green rubber stamped cachet with a similar design, and a purple "Nederlandse Ruimtevaart 26-6-1961" circular mark cancelling the label and a Belgian stamp. A Luxembourg stamp is postmarked with a Clervaux "Visitez son abbaye, son château" pictorial cancellation. Many of the covers were signed by Dr. A.J. De Bruijn, the scientist in charge.

Helicopter Flights

H4

31-May-1952

Luxembourg - Strasbourg. This helicopter flight was one of the special events held in support of the 1952 CENTILUX exhibition at Luxembourg. A special card and cover were used with a color cachet showing a helicopter over the Trois Tours of Luxembourg City and an old post office van. A purple postmark was used which reads "Vol par Hélicoptère / Luxembourg-Strasbourg / 31-V-52" and includes a small drawing of a helicopter over the Adolphe Bridge.

Luxair First Flights

The FSPL issued cacheted envelopes for all these 22 first flights (except the last one). The main design element on the first 20 envelopes is similar -- a Luxair aircraft in flight. The LX21 envelope (to Dubrovnik) shows a man in the native costume of Yugoslavia.

Other Flights

Taipei - Luxembourg. This was the first China Airlines (CAL) flight from Taipei, Taiwan to Luxembourg. CAL provides cargo service to and from Luxembourg.

none

20-May-1982

Paris - Luxembourg. This was the Air France first Concorde flight from Paris to Luxembourg. Block time was 1 hour.

none

20-May-1982

Luxembourg - Paris. This was the Air France first Concorde flight from Luxembourg to Paris, the return leg of the previously listed flight. Block time was 35 minutes.

none

31-Mar-1985

London - Luxembourg. This was the British Airways Concorde first supersonic flight from London to Luxembourg at the restart of scheduled services to the Duchy by British Airways on March 31, 1985. Block time was 1 hour.

none

31-Mar-1985

Luxembourg - London. This was the British Airways Concorde first supersonic flight from Luxembourg to London, the return leg of the previously listed flight. Block time was 1 hour, 4 minutes.